Life of Pi! (:

When Emily Dickinson wrote that “much madness is divinest sense to a discerning eye”, she stated the ever true statement of how playwrights and novelists view madness. Often times, writers create a character whose madness seems very evident, but actually plays a key part of the story. In Life of Pi, for example, Piscene (Pi) Patel is a character who displays symptoms that might seem of madness. However, his role in the story is vital and his behavior is what makes the story. He only does not seem mad in one aspect, however, but in many areas does he come across as being irrational and somewhat crazy.


One area that Pi extends beyond the borders of normality is through his religious views. Pi is not Hindu, Christian, or Islam, but he is all three. The three leaders of these religions that he knew, as well as his family, were simply appalled by this, but Pi finds it quite reasonable. He finds the stories fascinating, not just because of what happened or how the religion formed, but almost because there is a sense of a higher degree of love for humanity in all of them. But, for such a religious child, Pi also finds deep appreciation for atheism, because he believes that if one is going to believe in something, he or she should truly believe with all they have. This is why he is disgusted by agnostics. They lack creativity and imagination in Pi’s eyes because they refuse to make a decision on the topic of God, whereas he believes they should believe one thing or the other as a definitive answer. This whole seeming madness in everyone’s eyes but Pi’s illustrate just who Pi is in a way, and emphasize the importance of faith and spirituality that becomes a major factor throughout the rest of the story on how Pi views things.

Through his time on the lifeboat, Pi seems incredibly mad. Not only is he on the boat in the beginning with an orangutan and zebra, but a hyena and a Bengal tiger as well. As he watches in fear as the hyena kills the zebra and orangutan and the tiger kills the hyena, it seems all hope is lost for young Pi. As time progresses though and the reader watches Pi grow throughout the story, he seems crazy, perhaps suicidal in some areas. He builds his own raft attached to the boat and stays there in open water surrounded by sharks. He also claims his territory on the lifeboat with the tiger, Richard Parker, on board by pouring urine on the tarp above Richard Parker. Not only does Pi remain with the tiger on the boat, he attempts to keep him alive by breaking all morals and killing fish not just for himself, but for Richard Parker as well. Pi even goes so far as to tame Richard Parker by rocking the boat and blowing a whistle so Richard Parker would begin associating the whistle with sea-sickness. If this doesn’t seem mad enough, Pi stays in the boat with Richard Parker after a storm destroys his raft, and when they land on an island, he leaves once he deems the water unsafe and heads back into open water. All of this truly does seem like Pi has been exposed to the sun too long and has gone crazy. These events though, exemplify the will to live that is so prevalent in this story.

Both faith and the will to live are important factors in this story. Without these, Pi would have never made it out of the situation at sea. He relied throughout the endeavors on religious references, such as seeing things as “God’s eyes”. Despite his love for God though, his spirituality could not handle his needs. Even though he prayed daily, his need for religion slowly molded into his need for survival. Pi, originally very principled, begins to break his values because it would be impossible to continue living without doing so. Though he seems mad, his will to survive is actually the deciding factor in all decisions.

At the end, when Pi tells the Japanese man a whole different story because the man expressed his disbelief, one really sees Pi as mad. His new story consists of him being even more a breaker of his morals, through killing not an animal, but another person. Pi never tells the truth as to which one is the actual story. He takes this first step in being a story teller, something that led him to even tell the story of his boat survival for the writing of “Life of Pi”. One thing, though, that is interesting is Pi’s name. Pi, in math, is the never-ending number, a number of unsurety. Just like his name, this book has an almost never ending number of tales that leave the reader unsure of the truth or what happened, including the ending. There is no resolution in the end, just as in the number Pi, just something to leave the reader wondering.

The whole story, it seems, is full of madness.

Final Current Event Blog

The Dalai Lama is accusing the government of putting poison on womens' head and hands so he is poisoned when touching them. The government finds this claim ridiculous, and says they could have killed him years ago if they wanted.

I think this is a funny issue. His mind seems... Gone in his old age. It's quite the funny story. I think that the Chinese government should just blow this one off, because it seems completely irrelevant and confused. They wouldn't have waited so many years to kill off an old man!

Stacklin, Jeff. "China rebuts Dalai Lama’s alleged poison plot." Yahoo! News. N.p., 12 May 2012. Web.
     14 May 2012.

Life of Pi #4

So, the ending of this book, as I tried not mentioning in the last blog, seriously confused me. I don't think I liked it very much, but I loved it at the same time. I had to keep re-reading it and still am confused. I dislike being confused, but I finally figured out the actual story didn't matter. Oh well, I still liked this book. It was definitely my favorite we've read.

Current Event #3

This article is about one of the "escorts" from the Secret Service scandal accusing the agents of having no respect and being careless. She states that the agent she was with left his papers exposed, and had she been a spy, she could have easily taken them. She also confirmed that Arthur Huntington, the agent, offered her $30 which led to confrontation and drawing of attention.

I think this is just one of those stories that gains attention with the more talking done. This woman led him in for sex in exchange for money, but clearly states she is not a prostitute (while doing said interview in a skimpy green dress). Sure, she may be right in stating his carelessness, but complaining that he didn't want to pay her enough and that he showed no respect? Honey, you're a whore; what do you expect? This seriously irritates me. I agree with the government that she needs protection from the government in the fact that she let a name out, but she really doesn't have right in my mind to be bothered by a drunk agent who didn't want to pay $250 - it's illegal anyway! I think SHE needs fined just as much as the agents involved with Huntington need be, and Huntington deserves his loss of position.

Romo, Christine, and Brian Ross. "Secret Service Escort Says US Agents 'Showed No Respect'." Yahoo!
       News. N.p., 4 May 2012. Web. 4 May 2012.

Life of Pi #3

I'm not going to lie... I've already finished the book, so I'll try to keep my knowledge from the rest from the blog!

Well, I like this section. It really picks up on action and gives more insight into just how much Pi has to face. Feeding a bengal tiger is intimidating in itself, let alone facing HOW to do it. With no food or knowledge on how to get it, he goes in headfirst and does a great job of it. I love his description of how much trouble it is to kill the first fish, or eat the meat because of his vegetarian ways. He is so naive to begin with, but the progressing time expresses the human will to survive. However, as the will to survive is obvious, the ability to seems to crumble as the end of the section comes, even leading to him writing the ever depressing "dying" statuses in his diary. This is definitely my favorite of the books we have read, and has the most action and realism. I actually think I might WANT to own this one.

Current Event #2 (And one for fun!)

Hahaha. I really wanted to do this one, but I couldn’t because it’s not actually a current event, but I’m putting it in here to begin with anyway! In Poland, a dentist numbed her boyfriend up with novocaine, then pulled ALL his teeth out, bandaged him up without a word, and walked away. He didn’t realize it until he got home! To top it off, his new girlfriend broke up with him, because she didn’t want a toothless man. She now faces jail time, of course, but it still made me laugh.  My response? I hope he got one of those goody bags that dentists give! And the both of them need mental checkups. Nothing worse than a woman scorned, so he should know better, but she is just psycho!

Bigler, Taylor. "Novocaine nightmare: Dentist pulls out all of ex-boyfriend’s teeth." Yahoo! News.

      30 April 2012. Web. 30 Apr 2012.

Okay… My REAL current event:

Lately, Obama has been using the assassination of Bin Laden as a political campaign, over playing it and using it against Romney for a chance at re-election. However, Obama denies these charges on the grounds that there is no excessive celebration, simply discussing the facts.

I think that Obama is definitely over-celebrating this. I mean, I totally agree that he did a great thing and that it was a great day for America, but he doesn’t need to brag and act as though he is the only president to ever attempt such an operation. Not the greatest example, but we did go over in history about how Jimmy Carter attempted an operation in Iran to save hostages. He’s right to use it in his campaign, true, but he’s using it to make Romney look unworthy, but… Hey, that’s politics.

Know, Olivier. "Bin Laden raid anniversary has not seen ‘excessive celebration,’ Obama says."

      Yahoo! News. 30 April 2012. Web. 30 Apr 2012.

Life of Pi #2

The sinking of the boat really throws the story into a overload of information. The whirlwind of the flashback of the moments before the landing in a boat with a tiger give insight into the logic that runs through Pi's mind of how the animals must have wound up. Once the realization of the tiger hits him, and after watching the violent attacks on the other animals done by the hyena, he meets the realization of animalistic characteristics and the realization of what could happen to him on the boat with the tiger must have been devastating. His emotions were tested by the physical pain the animals were in, even sending him into tears. He still comes out prevailing through this though, especially after watching Orange Juice (the orangutan) show such humane actions such as searching for her two lost sons in the water. This part of the book was much more entertaining, and the detail let a reader feel like he or she is almost there with Pi throughout this experience on the boat. I'm definitely beginning to like this book more.

Current Event #1

President Obama took a road trip around schools promoting Congress to pass a bill preventing interest rates on student loans to double, adding nearly $1,000 more to each year of costs. He also worked to promote young voters to come back for his re-election.

I think this is actually a really good idea, especially in today's economy. With an ever-increasing college cost, student loans are seeming to be a growing necessity. The idea of an interest inflation would cripple the ability of many students to be able to attend college for the full term, and students attempting to pay back loans without jobs could be caught in the onslaught of inflating interest, and be in a whirlwind of payment troubles. The visits could easily promote more young voters, those of college age, to vote for Obama or at least join the actual vote in general. With the ability to help decide what's best for them by voting in someone they believe is willing to help their problems, they are much more likely to respond in a postive manner and register to vote. I think he is making a wise choice in this campaign, as compared to simply talking about it with no action.


Knox, Olivier. "Obama’s student loan push helps him court crucial young voters." Yahoo! News. N.p., 24 
      April 2012. Web. 24 Apr 2012.


***I've tried editing this citation, and it looks fine on here (writing), but when I view it, it's all messed up.

Life of Pi: Numero Uno

So, I’m going to start by saying that I have strep throat, and when you have strep throat, EVERYTHING is more dreadful. Especially books that bore me to begin with. L

The author’s note is pretty neat though, in describing how he travelled and met Pi Patel and blah blah blah that isn’t real but written well enough to be so. And now…  Sloths, sloths, and more sloths. I think that killed my ADHD/strep throat medicated/sleepy/bored manner. Pi’s story is a very detailed, super realistic one. Personally, I like the name Piscine (I’m a Pisces!), and the story of the zoos and learning to swim. It’s a great insight into one’s life, especially with the atheist communist teacher that reminds me of a story Mr. Sutton tells us, so I relate to that! The multiple religions that Pi experienced becoming as he aged were also incredible detailed, must have been well researched, but I can see where the book would test faiths sometimes. However, I totally agree with his agnostic hatred, I must say, and that I like how he decided on Christianity when questioned about it later when confronted about being three religions. Overall, the book was interesting, but VERY dull.

Fahrenheit 451: Part 2

Fahrenheit 451 ended in an expected, yet unexpected way to me. I didn't like how Clarisse's disappearane was never truly explained, simply hinted at. I think it would have been more interesting to have a sure fire answer, because there's always the off chance she could have done like Montag and run to the woods and been claimed dead, but I guess that's part of the hope aspect. The Mildred removal from the story was foreshadowed in a way, however, in that she would turn on him. The reading of Dover Beach really seemed a foreshadow to how the book would end in that it almost talks about lost hope, and the reactions of the women (crying and name calling) seem to show a true example of how much the hope has gone from society without literature that they don't even want to hear reading. The ending with the bombing, however, I interpretted in a strange way I think. I saw the bombs as the final straw of the missing hope for society, and once the war ended and the city was gone, civilization can start over with a chance of literature coming back, and thus, a hope revival. I really liked this book, despite my Daddy's awful reviews of it!

Fahrenheit 451: Part 1 (:

The Hearth and the Salamander

               The first section of Fahrenheit 451 is an insight into the heart of a man whose conscious becomes evident. The description Montag provides at the beginning of the book about the “fiery smile” and details of book burnings expresses just how much he loves the job of being a fireman. The love slowly turns to questions when seventeen year old Clarisse steps into the picture and begins questioning the actions of everything. She dives into detail of the past where people could read what they wanted, do as they pleased, and when things were simpler. She leads Montag to begin to question things himself, and try new things such as tasting the rain and the self-discovery of unhappiness. However, as he becomes accustomed to talking to Clarisse, she turns up missing and thought dead. He questions the actions of society more when his crew goes to burn a house and the woman inside will not leave her books. He even goes as far as to steal one and hide it under his pillow, pretending sick the next day and having the boss explain how and why things are as they are. Montag still seems to disagree, not wanting to ever go back to the book burning job. He resents it more as he meets a college professor who discusses how things used to be when books were acceptable. As the section ends, Montag is questioning all the actions he is forced to do, and is actually performing the illegal action he was raised to oppose and do the job of removing – reading books.

The Great Gatsby (:

A critic who wrote that the theme of The Great Gatsby is the withering of the American Dream is correct. Throughout the story, a reader can sympathize with Gatsby, who faces the harsh reality of life’s troubles. He reaches the materialistic American Dream, but not the emotional dream, and thus the American Dream is crushed in total.  

The Great Gatsby expresses early signs of the withering of the American Dream with Gatsby’s reaching towards the hope of the green light. Gatsby, who seems to have everything one could want in America, still isn’t happy and desires something. He is incredibly wealthy, and he throws extravagant parties that people travel to from all over New York. He’s the object of wonders and rumors, and the most mysterious man that people want to know. He’s everything that one living in America could wish to be, yet the one person no one would ever want to be.

Although he appears to have the American Dream in the palm of his hand, the insight into his life allows one to realize that the American Dream for Gatsby is incomplete without hope, and his hope relies on his love for Daisy. Without hope and happiness, money is just materialistic and not worth anything to the owner.

The same of lack of happiness applies to the relationship Tom and Daisy. Their relationship seems perfect to the eyes, until one is caught up in the middle. The realization of the lack of love becomes more evident, and the unhappiness is expressed. Both want someone else, and are only with each other simply because if they’re both miserable, they can be miserable together.

The death of Gatsby in the end of the book brings the story together, on how the author seems to believe that life isn’t worth it in the end, because it’s all leading to a tragic ending of death anyway. No matter how much worth someone has, happiness is the American Dream, not what he or she has. With the lack of happiness, the American Dream falters and doesn’t exist, and will one day be completely gone and unexpected.

The Great Gatsby 6-9

Oh my gosh. I totally didn’t realize this never posted and saved into drafts instead. I’m so sorry.

The final chapters of the Great Gatsby give insight into what life is like in his mind. Gatsby has reasons, well, a reason for his actions, and they become evident. All he wants is Daisy. The chapters describe the struggle he has gone through to appeal to her, to just grab her attention again, and the joy he feels once she is his again. Although the story is a tragedy, it really pulls at a reader’s heart, in that the reader feels the pain and joy that Gatsby encounters, even though you only truly see it through Nick’s eyes. The argument with Tom, when Daisy and Gatsby kill Myrtle and he loses her, all of these are so filled with emotion that one can’t help but see that life is just not all that worth living in this story. “Life sucks and then you die.” The sign outside the Wilson’s store truly did have an underlying meaning, and the book represents this well.

The Great Gatsby

The Great Gatsby is an insight into the American dream: hope. The first five chapters really lead into this idea of the American dream, with looks into the characters’ personal lives and wishes.  Nick, for example, is out trying to make his own life and be his own person. The characters aren’t all important symbols of hope, however. The story line between Gatsby and Daisy is however, as Daisy is the focus of Gatsby’s hope. He has already reached the financial, stereotypical goal of the American vision, but it isn’t enough for him. His desire for Daisy rules his life, and he wants more than anything to have her. He even reaches toward a green light in chapter one that is off of her dock, not only a symbol of reaching for Daisy herself, but of reaching for hope. He also even expresses his almost need for Daisy when he asks Nick to invite the two of them over for dinner so he can see her and talk to her again.  The story between the two of them allows for the persistence that ensues the American dream, and the desire to obtain it.

The Minister's Black Veil

The Minister’s Black Veil is a story of a minister who breaks out of the norm, by suddenly wearing a black veil in a small Puritan town. Reverend Hooper is described as being a gentleman, but when he makes an appearance with the black veil that hangs from his forehead with only his mouth allowed to be seen, people’s views became somewhat different of him. Although still the calm natured preacher he was before the veil, people are frightened by him, and rumors begin that he has become something awful. His sermons become focused on secret sin, sending more rumors flying, but they become much more interesting and people travel from all over to come watch this strange, veiled minister preach.

After service, Hooper performs a funeral service, making it much more daunting than regular funerals. Later, he marries two people and his veil raises the tensions even at a happy event, even frightening himself when he catches his reflection in a wine glass. Groups are formed to ask Reverend Hooper about the veil, but falter when they come face to face with him. His fiancée, Elizabeth, gathers to courage to ask about it, and he tries explaining he may not remove it for the rest of his moral life, in his explanation: “There is an hour to come…when all of us shall cast aside our veils”. Though he begs her not to leave him, she says she cannot live a life with him and leaves, which results in Hooper remaining alone and an outcast in society, though still a predominant clergyman.

The story then sends the reader far into the future, when Hooper is on his deathbed. Reverend Clark, the minister of Westbury is praying at his side, and attempts to remove the veil before Hooper’s death. Reverend Hooper pulls the veil back over his eyes desperately, and is asked what sin he has committed that he does not want his face seen. Instead of discussing his own sins, he discusses how poorly he has been treated and accuses everyone of having secret sins, and dies (and is buried) in his veil.

This story relates to The Crucible in the way that people view those who see things differently. He becomes an outsider to the community when he begins wearing a veil, in the same way that the girls in The Crucible became viewed differently when they claimed to see witchcraft. He becomes convicted, as though there is some sort of sin about him because he is not like the rest of society.

On Writing Essay (:

Stephen King is a firm believer in following one’s belief in writing. His works of art that are his writings are proof that practice can make close to perfect. He is creative and used everything he has learned throughout the years to improve his writing to the extent of him having the ability to now critique others on their writing ethics.

He’s been writing since he was a child and attempting to get his work published, and allowed the criticism to only make him stronger. Being told by Algis Budrys that his work was good, just not good enough for Fantasy and Science Fiction, he took that to heart and even rewrote the piece and got it submitted ten years later (pg. 41). Not only does he believe that criticism through years of writing can make one a stronger writer in substance, but in ability as well. A writer can grow in vocabulary, for example. As King puts it, “As the whore said to the bashful sailor, ‘It ain’t how much you got honey, it’s how you use it.’ (pg. 114)” He doesn’t believe in using big words just because you can, but using words that fit and making the sentences much easier to read.

               Stephen King also is a firm hater of adverbs, because they are not a writer’s friend (pg. 124). They’re used for timid writers, those afraid of writing something that seems like it won’t be taken seriously. With his views of the path to hell being paved with adverbs, writing for a long period of time should teach writers to stop writing in passive tense, and be more confident in their abilities. With more writing practice, more writing skills will be achieved, less adverbs will be used, thus making one a better writer.

               Not only does he have certain critiques on what to include and what not to include, but with how to and what to write. He says to write what one is interested in, or the writing will not be interesting to the writer nor to the reader. Readers only want to read interesting books, ones they can take on an airplane for entertainment (pg. 160), not books that only follow literary qualities. Writing incessantly improves writing and lets a writer learn what his or her boundaries are and what he or she will be interested and good at writing.

               King puts forth good arguments on writing throughout his book. He gives great advice, and points out all his pet peeves and mistakes that writers will make. He doesn’t believe in giving up, but persevering writing if it’s what one enjoys doing, then gives advice on how to write and what to include or leave out. Stephen King is truly an amazing writer and a great inspiration to all aspiring writers.

On Writing #3

Well, maybe it was just the middle section. This last bit was actually pretty readable (Is that even a word? Oh well, is now if it wasn't!). King had some pretty good analogies that made this section MUCH more logical and easy to read. He gives some good advice on how to edit a book that you're writing. I love his views about not quitting:  “Only God gets it right the first time” and “Someone really did design the Titanic and then label it unsinkable”. Mistakes happen and they’re good for writing, and I love that he acknowledges that as a simple fact. I also like his idea to write FOR someone specific, in his words, the ideal reader. It makes things a lot simpler because then you know you’ll have someone to please and someone to focus on when writing the book, because your own words might sound good to you, but not to yourself.  The length section gives a simple description on how much shorter a second draft should be. The formula provided (2^nd Draft = 1^st Draft – 10%) was pretty unique.   But, as everyone probably writes about, the wreck section was the most interesting. His vivid details and views on the whole thing were very simplistic and not actually very angrily written. He seemed to remain calm, and I love his passion for writing remained even through the accident. The book was overall really good, minus the boring parts in the middle, and I did learn a lot about writing. Maybe when I’m a politician writing about my life (with Porkchop!), it’ll come in handy!

State of Union Address

Obama's State of Union address had moments of interest and some good points, but I tried falling asleep about 8:45, and I don't honestly believe he'll follow through with the ideas he had that were pretty good. By starting off with the military situation of no soldiers in Iraq, he was smart in doing something interesting and sneaking into American values and economy with the WWII referencing. His economy plan is to move forward, and he wants to bring manufacturing back into the US. I actually agreed with his idea of business in America. The idea of tax deductions of businesses who stay at home instead of outsourcing is actually a wise idea that many Americans would agree with, but I still feel as though he won't follow through, but I do also agree with his beliefs on teaching and schools. Working on keeping good teachers, rewarding fantastic ones, and firing the ones who aren't helping students is pretty smart, but the thing I agree most with is the dropout idea. Not being allowed to until graduation or age 18 in every state is the best and most logical thing he has tried pushing for in his campaign. However, I disagree with some points such as his discussing "betting" on peoples' jobs during the auto crisis, or some of his ideas on immigrants. I don't believe we should make all the immigrants who have been living illegally in America citizens now. With the oil discussion, he became incredibly repetitive in his feelings on we should have cleaner energy, which is the point I started wanting to sleep.

The debt discussion was kind of aggravating. $250,000 is struggling? Uh, no. Coming from a household of MAYBE $40,000 a year, I am terribly biased on that, I'm sorry. But I disagree. I don't think he should punish the wealthy for being so, and that's what he sounds like he is doing, even though he is wealthy himself. His plan is supposed to benefit the poor, but not improve their lives. Instead of his plans on reducing the deficit with taxes, his jobs that he discussed opening should be more than minimum wage jobs, and should open up better Welfare options. I DO agree when he said Washington was broken. Another thing I noticed that was Republicans, McCain specifically, did not really applaud or anything until Obama stated he agreed with Republican Abe Lincoln. I don't really have anything much to say on his discussions after that moment, because it just seems like something you can expect from a politician and nothing new. His plan to create a Veterans Job Corp is nothing new, and already exists in that most already are doing jobs he mentioned. The speech ended, but I really did not honestly gain anything from this, or have a new image of Obama. It seemed like a typical Obama speech, with nothing that really stood out, other than his campaigning for presidency.

***I am not and have never been an Obama supporter. Things like this just remind me why. Typical politician, nothing from the heart, as though he was just checking off a list that people EXPECT him to talk about.

On Writing #2

Well, this section was… Not exactly boring, but I really could not keep my attention on it. The humorous comments were the main reason that I kept reading and trying to maintain any sort of focus. The comparison of writing to telepathy is pretty unique though. Although I must admit, right before the toolbox section, he said we should do something more productive like wash a car, and I really rather would be, because after that first section, he gets incredibly repetitive. He also seems like, in the “Toolbox” section, he expects the audience of the book to be older, more experienced readers. He even states that “this isn’t high school”. Sorry Mr. King, but it is! Anyway, I appreciated the lack of massive grammar section, but he was wise to state clearly that noun and verb sentences were acceptable if you can get away with it. I lost all interest in the sections following, but with quotes like “I believe the road to hell is paved with adverbs”, it was made clear how he felt about the specifics of grammar. The “On Writing” section was incredibly hard to get through. I could not get through any of the paragraphs with any focus, because his language was so varied and made references I did not understand (Ex: Ephemeral craving vs. quacking box). He did delve into some deep meanings in what writing is and should be, though. The only thing that I really got from what I’ve read from this section is that good writing is better than TV, and that writing requires good description, I’m not going to lie.  Maybe it was just a bad attempt at reading, but I'm not really sure.

On Writing #1

I’ve been a Stephen King fan long before this book, just putting that out there, and this book reminds me why I love to read his stories. On Writing begins with a not so classic, very humorous description of his life. The second foreword, which describes most books about writing as "filled with b********", and that pretty much sums up my opinion of them and well, most stories about a person's life as well. But I actually have really enjoyed these first hundred pages, because they are not what I would normally expect. I don't imagine writing books as being full of words that I cannot even type on a school paper, no matter how much I would LOVE to quote some of this. But I very much relate to some of this that he's written. Such as about his "stripe throat", haha, I go through that EVERY year, right now unfortunately to be honest. But with the needle stuff, no way, I shuddered. WORST part of the book. I hate needles. He didn't make it any easier to read with all those descriptions either. "Loud kissing sound" and "hot fluid" do not make needles sound any more appealing. I must admit though, I laughed at the part about poison ivy. I'm not allergic to it, so I find it even funnier, because I can't relate to that. I didn't really care much about his publishing stories though, even though I'm pretty sure that's what I'm supposed to care about. The stories about his ideas for books and how he got rejected constantly and so on just didn't appeal to or impress me. I mean, it's not that I don't, oh I can't remember the word so we'll go with appreciate, that he kept trying despite the rejection he got into; it just did not matter much to me to read. The stories about the newspapers in school or when he wrote the book on "The Pit and the Pendulum", however, were much more interesting and therefore, kept my attention on them. I'm going to admit right here though, that I did not do the annotations during the reading process (I’m re-reading to them). I did mark one thing during my reading though, and that's because it made me laugh. But that's far from being appropriate to type; it's the "killing for peace..." quote. It makes sense to me! And I must say, that’s the one line I showed my parents, and they laughed at it too (both are Stephen King fans as well).